We had the Pre-Sarex drill in KHTP a month ago in preparation of LIMA …..the scenario was helicopter crashed near a lake with 24 paratroopers onboard. Hopefully the experience obtained from the KHTP drill gave the rescue team some advantage.

Q: Are we going to send our paratroopers to the battle field during war?A: Yes, of course, that what paratroopers are trained for.

Q: Are we sending our women to war?A: Hmmmm..

FYI, USA Paratroopers recruiting still exclude female due to the nature of its task – drop zone behind enemy line.

That’s my take.

Rgds,Sabki

Sunday December 2, 2007 (STAR)Military Exercise Mishap at Lima - Claims 3 LivesBy DERRICK VINESHLANGKAWI: Strong winds claimed the lives of three paratroopers, including a woman who drowned during a parachute training exercise at the Mahsuri International Airport here Sunday morning.Siti Hajar Yaakub, 24, died at sea while her teammates Nurul Wahida Yusuf, 20, and Raymond A/K Duncan, 25, an Iban, died at the Langkawi Hospital.They were among 160 paratroopers from the 10th Paratrooper Unit of the Terendak Camp, Malacca who took part in the exercise in conjunction with the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (Lima) 2007 event.Langkawi district police chief Supt Mohamed Ali Jamaluddin said the three officers and 17 others drifted 200m off course and fell from a height of about 300m into the sea off Pantai Cenang during the exercise at 10.15am.He said five women and six male officers were admitted at the hospital for hypothermia and minor injuries.One of them, Suraya Ali, 23, was warded in the Intensive Care Unit for broken ribs and punctured lung. Another officer Zaliza Zakaria, 23, who also suffered similar complications.“We called off the 170-member rescue operation at 12.53pm after all 138 officers who jumped off two aircrafts were rescued,” he said.He added that the marine police together with the armed forces personnel and fire and rescue services conducted the search and rescue.Supt Mohd Ali said the team were practising for a performance during the Lima opening on Tuesday.“The paratrooper team from Malacca usually performs this exercise every Lima.“This year, the Eastern wind has been somehow quite strong,” he said.